Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey
Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey
Overall, I enjoyed these characters’ relationship and banter throughout the story. I liked how they helped each other realize things about themselves so that they could grow. However, there were some things that took away from the overall story and made me enjoy it less.
First, I always have a problem with the trope of a notorious play-boy that suddenly falls in love and is disgusted by his past actions. People should be respectful yes, but it shouldn’t be looked down upon if someone wants to enjoy a single life and not date. In this situation, Robbie doesn’t just sleep with a lot of women but he also brags and talks about them in a disrespectful manner. Within the first few pages he seems to have remembered that he was raised better than that, all because Skylar doesn’t immediately fall at his feet. I was quickly able to get past this part because the banter and moments once the couple starts to fake-date overshadow this annoying epiphany.
For the majority of the book, I was really enjoying the characters and scenes until the annoying third act break-up came up. I know a lot of romance books use a third act break-up but I usually don’t like this so it may have bothered me more than others. The bigger problem is what their third act break-up is about. This couple is extremely new to each other and yet a mistake (that honestly seems more warranted) cannot be forgiven or understood? Although some secondary characters do bring that up a bit, the couple still stays apart for a bit too long in my opinion. The very end became suddenly corny as well so I felt it took away from the middle of the story which was funny, fast-paced and entertaining.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc. And I am so sorry it took me this long to read it.
Synopsis: Boston Bearcats rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the dream. He’s made it to the NHL, his best friend/teammate and fellow “orgasm donor” is his roomie—and the women of Boston love them both. Life is sweet. That is, until he meets Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher, girl least likely to take anyone’s bull…and the one member of the opposite sex immune to his charms. Robbie might be dazzled by the badass pitcher, but Skylar pegs him as a filthy player and wants nothing to do with him.
When he discovers she’s carrying a serious torch for her brother’s best friend, Robbie knows he should just go back to clubbing and whipped cream bikini parties, but he can’t seem to leave Skylar to flounder on her romantic quest to land another man. Nor can he miss out on the opportunity to spend time with her and hopefully redeem himself. Before Robbie knows it, he’s agreed to be Skylar’s fake boyfriend/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition where her crush will be in attendance. What could go wrong?
Through a series of contests that require them to trust each other, Robbie and Skylar grow closer and closer until their fake relationship starts to feel like the realest thing they’ve ever known and the sizzling lessons in sensuality burn out of control.
But it’s all just pretend…right?